Bite Back with Abbey Sharp “The Algorithm Is Raising Our Kids — And It’s Pulling them into Deadly Rabbit Holes” - Teaching Media Literacy with Matthew Johnson
Nov 11, 2025
Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts and media literacy expert, dives into the alarming effects of algorithms on youth. He reveals how social media amplifies harmful content and shapes perceptions of reality. Johnson provides practical strategies for parents to help their kids navigate digital landscapes safely. He emphasizes the importance of early media literacy education and co-viewing media to foster critical discussions about body image and stereotypes. Learn to recognize and counteract misinformation effectively!
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Algorithms Amplify Peer Pressure
- Social platforms amplify pressures because we both consume and participate in curated images from peers, not just celebrities.
- Algorithms then progressively show more of emotionally resonant content, intensifying diet and body-image messaging.
Hobby Communities Can Be Recruitment Grounds
- Far-right and other extremist groups deliberately target hobby communities as recruitment spaces.
- Almost any benign interest can be an entry point because algorithms and link-building connect communities.
Actively Train Your Algorithm
- Curate feeds: mute, unfollow, or train the algorithm to show more body-neutral content and less harmful material.
- Use implicit signals: swipe away unwanted videos quickly and watch preferred content fully to retrain recommendations.
